Despite speculation and political pressure from various quarters suggesting that President Bola Tinubu might replace Vice President Kashim Shettima on the 2027 ticket, insiders say the president is firmly committed to retaining him. Multiple names have been floated, such as Abdullaziz Yari, Nuhu Ribadu, Dr. Mohammed Bago, Senator Uba Sani, Inuwa Yahaya, and Yakubu Dogara, but none have received official traction within the administration.
APC officials, including Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the National Vice Chairman (South‑East), publicly dismissed the rumors as mere distractions. She described the Tinubu–Shettima pairing as a “solid working relationship” and maintained that the vice president is a “key asset” and essential to the administration. Additionally, Borno State APC leaders issued a formal communique urging President Tinubu to keep Shettima, citing his unwavering loyalty, diligence, and depth of commitment to Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Backers of Shettima highlight his strong political organization in the North-East and North as one of his key strengths. A government insider told Vanguard that Shettima’s deep-rooted structures, his clean electoral track record in Borno, and his consistent support for Tinubu since the APC primary make him too valuable to discard. Loyalty and competence are cited as central pillars of their continued partnership,
That said, strategic voices from the North have called for a recalibration. The Arewa Youth Movement and other stakeholders from the North-Central and North-West corridors have argued that selecting a Northern Christian running mate could broaden Tinubu’s appeal, particularly in middle-belt states like Plateau, Nasarawa, and the FCT regions, where support dipped in 2023 due to perceptions of religious imbalance.
Yet political commentators caution against the risk of disunity that could result from dropping Shettima. Analysts emphasize that removing a loyal vice president may trigger backlash within the APC and alienate Northern voters, potentially doing more harm than including a religiously diverse partner from the North.
In summary, Tinubu’s camp appears undeterred by the push for a new running mate. With Borno leaders, APC national voices, and key analysts warning of the political cost of sidelining Shettima, the vice president’s position heading into 2027 seems secure.
